TEHRAN, March 27 — More than 350 vessels are waiting for Iran’s permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz, 27 days into the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Thursday.
Citing the latest reports and field developments, Fars said the strategic waterway remains closed to the United States, Israel, and their allies, with no vessel allowed to pass without Iran’s permission.
According to the report, the vessels have been ordered to power down their systems and remain stationary.
Among the waiting vessels are 25 supertankers, 200 oil tankers, and 70 LNG and CNG carriers, Fars said, adding that without Iran’s approval, they can neither proceed nor dock at regional ports, as sea routes remain under the Iranian armed forces’ full control.
In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, Navy Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Alireza Tangsiri said that any vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz must fully coordinate with Iran’s maritime authorities.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians.
Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, and tightening its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, blocking vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
